10 Reasons
by Rose Aislin.
Summary: Vader finds one of Luke's datapads - which contains a list - '10 Reasons I Cannot, Possibly, Ever, be Related to My Father'.
Rating: PG / T (probably more of a G, really, but considering it deals with Star Wars, which is itself rated at least a PG....)
Warning/s: none
Disclaimer: Star Wars, it's characters and plotline belongs to George Lucas, and I'm pretty sure whoever else helped make the films may have some claim as well. I don't.
This fic is written entirely for entertainment purposes. No money has, is, or will be gained from this fic.
Kitt's Force Bond Series inspired this ficlet.
A/N: this ficlet is set in what I've started to call my 'kid luke universe' (all the other names I came up with were too long, like the 'young luke lives with vader universe'). Luke is living with Vader.
10 Reasons
Vader entered, heavy footsteps echoing in the emptiness of the conference room. He moved towards his normal chair, scowling slightly - not that anyone would have noticed, when he saw that it was pushed out from the table partway. Someone had been using it. The black mask turned towards the tabletop, where a couple of datapads lay. Luke. If it had not been past his bedtime, Vader would surely have spoken to him about this.
Shifting the datapads as he sat, Vader's gaze fell upon one of them, still lit.
'10 Reasons I Cannot, Possibly, Ever, be Related to My Father,' he read. Vader frowned, his head tilting in annoyance. He read on.
'1. We look nothing alike.'
Vader snorted. It made a rather strange sound trying to emerge from his vocoder. Picking up a pen, he decided to add a reply to his son's foolishness.
'No doubt, you are referring to our mode of dress, son,' he wrote, 'for I remember looking quite like you in my youth. You have my hair and eyes, although,' he paused there, not quite willing to bring up the subject of Luke's mother yet - or perhaps ever, ' - I look quite different now," he finally decided on. 'While I can understand you may be under some confusion due to my suit,' he continued, 'please be assured that I am fully human. Or at least I was.' Vader frowned. Why did he always seem to end up telling the truth when talking to his son - even when he didn't want to? 'I am not a droid, nor some strange species of alien - however much I may resemble one. And you may rest assured, Luke, that the only part of me I could not claim was fully human when you were conceived was my right arm.' He decided to leave it there, lest he spill anymore of his secrets.
'2. He uses this strange, freaky power that I certainly can't use.'
'Son, it is NOT a strange, freaky power. It is the Force. And you can use it - you just cannot use it yet. It muyst be taught. If you are patient, perhaps one day I'll teach you.'
'3. He doesn't sleep, but forces me to all the time. If I was his son, I wouldn't have to sleep either.'
'Even I have to sleep, son. Just because I do not always do so in front of you, does not mean that I do not sleep. At other times I meditate - which you are far too impatient to have any success with at this stage. Perhaps when you are older.'
'4. He doesn't eat.'
'Eating is a natural requirement of all living beings. As I have already said that I am human, I must eat. My mask, however, makes this difficult. Therefore, I can only eat when I am in my hyperbaric chamber. As you are not allowed in there, you have never seen me do so. Rest assured, though, Luke, I do eat.'
'5. He's always angry. Do-Lan said kids have characteristics of their parents, but I'm never angry like that.'
'Be thankful you are not.' Vader frowned at what he had just written - shouldn't he want Luke to be angry? 'I was not always this angry, but situations in my life have made me thus.' Another frown. He should not be writing this - but he could not let such a list go unchallenged. 'You may not have my temperament, but that does not mean that you are not my son, son. Kids are not exactly the same as their parents.'
'6. We like completely different things.'
'Really? Last I heard, you were trying to convince one of my officers to let you borrow a speeder so you could go racing. I may spend most of my time now doing what I have heard you call "stupid, boring tasks," for the Emperor, but I spent much of my youth racing around the place. And I still pilot my own ships when I can. Perhaps one day I'll teach you. And, while you may have managed to build a droid - yes, I do know about that, Luke - I also spent much of my time tinkering with parts and build a protocol droid at one time. Not to mention continually fixing my mechanical limbs. So you see, Luke, we are not so different, after all.'
'7. He never does any Fatherly things with me.'
'If you are referring to 'Father's Day's at school, or going on picnics, then no, I do not. Those are not things which Dark Lords of the Sith engage in. While I am your father, I am also a Dark Lord of the Sith. Despite this, I believe that you have forgotten all those other 'fatherly' things which I do with you. If you recall, I have endured having to tuck you in at night, help you choose clothing � why you want my advice, I have no idea, monitor your nutrient intake, pick up after you, help you with homework, and, let's not forget that incident with the ghost in your bedroom which we never talk about. I think you will find that I have been quite 'fatherly', son.'
'8. He never lets me do anything.'
'I fail to see how this is a reason for me not to be your father, son. In my experience, it is a father's job to ensure that their son feels that they are never allowed to do anything. I did not have a father � but the one man I would perhaps place in that position,' here, Vader paused once more. There was a strange, aching, feeling in his chest. He would need to visit the med centre later to ensure that his suit was still working correctly. If they didn't find anything � incompetent as they were � he would have to have a look at it himself. 'Well, he certainly did not allow me to do anything I wanted.' Vader paused, wondering if perhaps he should stop this foolishness now. He never thought that such a list would manage to dredge up so many forgotten memories. Then he scowled. He was Darth Vader, he did not fear memories. 'The point being, son, that never letting you do anything � which is, of course, not true. I have relented and allowed you to attend school, I provided you with that latest game you wished for, and just last week I believe you were taking a ride on one of my shuttles � is something which a father does. Therefore, this is merely proof that I am your father.'
'9. He doesn't have a wife. You need a wife to have a son.'
The datapad creaked under the strength with which Vader clutched it. Forcing himself to relax, he placed it down on the table once more, leaning back in his seat. Why did his son always seem to so innocently ask him all the hardest questions? It was like he could cut to the heart of Vader without even trying. He had not thought of her in so long. Had not wanted to. Had never brought her up with his son. But perhaps Luke deserved the right to know � well, to know, something, at least.
'I did have a wife, Luke.' He wrote. 'She was the most beautiful woman I have ever met. One day, perhaps, I shall tell you more about her. But she died,' the datapad creaked once more, 'a long time ago. Do not ask me more on this matter.'
'10. He never acknowledges me as his son.'
'If having the Emperor know that you are my son isn't enough acknowledgement for you, then I don't know what is. I suppose you are referring to the fact that I have refused to go to this 'Father's Day' at school with you, and that I refuse to go wandering around in public with you. I believe we have also already addressed this issue. I am your father, but I am also a Dark Lord of the Sith. Dark Lords of the Sith do not go around doing these things. As to acknowledging you � it is far too dangerous for the general public to be aware of what my son looks like. They know that I have one, and that is dangerous enough as it is. My officers know who you are. So you can see, I do acknowledge you, but I am also trying to keep you safe � which, I have been told, is a very fatherly thing to do.'
Satisfied � if not happy, with his additions to Luke's list, Vader saved it, before switching the datapad off. He would leave the datapads in Luke's room. Standing, he made a mental note to have a discussion with the boy about leaving his things lying around � not only in his room, but also throughout the rest of their quarters. And also address the issue of Luke sitting in his chair. The boy had a perfectly functional work space in his own room � Vader had seen to that. Why he was determined to to keep invading his father's space, he had no idea.
Shaking his head, datapads held loosely in his hands, Vader left, the door swishing shut behind him.